The announcement Russellville was getting a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant earlier this year meant two things were certain about my upcoming football season. I would get the opportunity to watch every Green Bay Packers game, and many deep-fried chicken parts would be devoured while doing so.

I was told construction would be complete in November, but I can’t, for the life of me, remember where I heard this. As the summer marches closer to fall, this seems more and more impossible — but I’m keeping the faith.

Maybe they’ll fly the building in, pre-constructed, and drop it from above, like a gift from God.

There is so much to look forward to next year if you are a football fan, but there is even more to look forward to if you also happen to be me.

Besides Buffalo Wild Wings, there is the hype and expectation surrounding the Arkansas Razorbacks. I don’t have to put too many words here for most local readers to know exactly what I am talking about.

Will Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema be able to turn last year’s train wreck around?

Then there are high school sports. Since I’m currently working on The Courier’s annual high school football previews, I’ve gotten a behind-the-scenes peek at several high school teams in the Arkansas River Valley.

I love the Russellville Cyclones, of course — because I graduated from there — but what really gets me excited is going to the practices of teams from the 4A-4, 3A-4 and the 2A-4 Conferences.

Several schools in our coverage area battle it out in these leagues, and I simply cannot wait to watch them play each other. To see what I observe on the practice field each summer taken into action against another team I spent some time watching practice is truly one of my favorite things about this job.

We have a lot of great conference rivalries around here. The Atkins Red Devils, Danville Little Johns, Lamar Warriors and Two Rivers Gators in Class 3A; the Pottsville Apaches, Dardanelle Sand Lizards and Dover Pirates in 4A; Hector, Johnson County Westside and Western Yell County in 2A; and the Clarksville Panthers in 5A.

Yes, there is a lot to look forward to this upcoming football season. Buffalo Wild Wings, the Hogs and our local River Valley athletes — who provide us with endless entertainment, not because they are paid, but simply because they love the sport.